notably a case of six viols, in order to give concerts. Pepys had his little museum of instruments; he flattered himself that they were the best in England; and he played nearly all of them. His greatest pleasure was to sing and to play the flageolet. He carried this flageolet about with him everywhere, on his walks and in the eating-houses.
Then Swan and I to a drinking-house near Temple-Bar, where while he wrote I played on my flageolet till a dish of poached eggs was got ready for us.[1]
I came back by water playing on my flageolet.[2]
At night into the garden to play on my flageolet, it being moonshine, where I staid a good while.[3]
He even ventured upon composition:
Was all day in my chamber, composing some ayres, God forgive me![4]
And his compositions—thanks to the composer's high position—enjoyed a great social success, which Pepys was "not a little proud of."[5]
Eventually he persuaded himself that his works were excellent:
Captain Downing (who loves and understands musique) would by all means have my song of "Beauty retire," which Knipp has spread abroad, and he extols it above anything he ever heard; and without flattery I know it is good in its kind,[6]
